Apparatus for forming reconstructed carbonaceous material



June 19; 1928. 1,674,129

W. B. RULON APPARATUS FOR FORMING RECONSTRUCTED CARBONACEOUS MATERIALOriginal Filed July 28, 1925 l 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 19, 1928. 1,674,129

w. B. RULON APPARATUS FOR FORMING RECONSTRUCTED CARBONAGEOUS KATERIALOriginai Filed July 28, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 u 5 la a .4-

J W 5. lfulom 3% UMM June 19, 1928.

V W. B. RULON APPARATUS FOR FORMING RECONSTRUCTED CARBONACEOUS MATERIALOriginal Filed July 28, 1925 s sheets-sheet 4 F1 Fractzaml .Drslcllaio75 Frachona-L Daflllalar awuzntoz W5. Halon June 19, 1928. 1,674,129

' W. B. RULON APPARATUS FOR FORMING RECONSTRUCTED CARBONACEOUS MATERIALOriginal Filed Jul 2 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet a) Y Y a {a i n' a? f l 19 105102 .105 ,7? 6 I J05 102 do awwzmtoz WE. Rulon/ Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT o FicE;

WATSON B. RULON, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING RECONSTRUGTEID CARBONACEOUSMATERIAL.

Qxiginfl application filed July 28, 1925, Serial No. 46,676. Divided andthis application filed October 20, 1927. Serial No 227,605.

This invention relates to apparatus for purifying carbonaceous materialscontaining varying amounts of volatiles to. remove for eign mattertherefrom to produce a resultant reconstructed fuel which issubstantially free from foreign noncombustible material, and a divisionof my copending application Serial No. 46,676, tiled July 28, 1925,which has matured into Patent No.1,656,36 l.

It has heretofore been proposed to crush the crude material to betreatedto reduce it substantially to a fine powder whereupon it isconveyed to what known as an amalgamator where it is agitated in thepresence of water, and volatiles from an extraneous source areintroduced into the amalgamator where they are taken up by thecarbonaceous material. The actionof the amalgamator separates foreignmatter such as slate, ash,-

etc., from the carbon so that the volatiles introduced to theamalgamator combined only with the substantiallypure carbon. From theamalgamator the material isheatcd to drive off a portion of the moisturetaken up in the amalgamator and also to drive off a portion of thevolatiles then contained in the carbonaceous material. The resultantmate- .ri a1 formed has been foundto consist of sub stantially purecarbon together with volatiles which forms an excellent fuel which burnssubstantially without residue, such as ash. and the like. Considerabletrouble has been experienced in providing heating means for driving otl'moisture and some of the volatiles in forming the resultant fuel. In themethods heretofore employed, the heat iug step has been carried outwhile the material i in a more or less divided condition in the form ofglobules and the heating has been done in the presence of the productsof combustion from the heating means employed. I have found that thematerial previous to passing to the heating means may be formed inrelatively large pieces, such as bars of varying lengths, and theheating action may be carried out to drive off moiture and volatileswithout breaking the material, thus providing a resultant reconstructedfuel which may be delivered in sizes corresponding to the sizes ofdomestic fuels for more ready combustion. instead of the globular formas previously has been done. It also has been found that the heatingaction may be more advantageously carried out in a continuous tube whichis slightly larger than the diameter of the pieces or bars of thesemi-finished fuel, the tubes preventing the products of combustion fromcontacting with the material while the slightly larger diameter of theheating tubes permits the volatiles driven otf to be collected and con--doused for further use. v i v r The present invention contemplates theprovision of anapparatus'forcarrying out the method as outlined aboveand as claimed in my copending application referred to. In the provisionof the apparatus it is an important object to provide a unitary heatingmeans adapted to perform both the heating actions referred to, thusmaterially simplifying the apparatus employed and effecting a materialsaving in'fuel consumption incident to the heating operations, theheating apparatus employing as its fuel the lighter volatileconstituents initially driven off the crude material employed.

A further object is to provide novel means for a final heating actionwherein the amalgamated arbons and volatiles are extruded into acompletely closed tube which is ex" ternally heated whereby the productsof combustion from the-heating means are pre vented from coming incontact with the material being treated. y

A still further object is to provide a novel form of heating apparatuswherein heating zones ofincreasing intensity are provided for pro rtsivcly driving off the lighter to the hcavie" volatile constituents.

A still :l'urther object is to provide means tor extruding semi-plasticmaterialfrom the amalganiator in the form of a rod or bar and tointroduce the rods or bars thus formed into a heating tube of greaterdiameter than the care, the bars passing substantially continuouslythrough the tubes to be heated therein.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown several forms of apparatus adapted forforming the resultant fuel. In this showing,

Figure 1. is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus,

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudii'ial sectional view through the heatingapparatus,

Figure 3 is a section on line it 3 of Fig ure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar view on line -1.-l of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a section on line of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a modified form of :uniaratus.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form ofheating apparatus, and,

Figure 8 a fragmentary perspective view of the heating means employed inconnection with the form of the heating apparatus shown in Figure '1'.

Referring to Figure 1. the numeral 10 designates a crusher of anysuitable ltind adapted to be supplied with crude material through an endhopper ll. The crusher is provided with a ring gear 12 adapted to berotated by a pinion 13 mounted on a shaft 14. A pulley 15 is secured tothe shaft it and is adapted to be driven by a belt '16 from any suitablesource of power. The crusher is adapted to discharge material therefromto an outlet spout 17. The crusher 10 preferably reduces the material tosuch a degree of fineness that it will pass through from a 10 to a-1nesh screen.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 18 designates as a whole aheating apparatus preferably formed of tire brie c and substantiallyenclosed. The heating apparatus is provided near its upper end with alongitudinally extending conveyor 1.) having a screw 20 therein securedto a shaft 21 to be rotated thereby. The shaft is mounted in bearings 22and is adapted to be rotated by a suitable pulley 23 shown in Figure 2.At its inlet end, the conveyor is open as at 24 for communication withan inlet hopper 25 which is adapted to receive material from the outletend of the crusher 10. The opposite end of the conveyor is open as at 26to discharge material upon a spout 27. The heating apparatus 18 isdivided transversely by preferably equidistant'ly spaced walls 28 asshown in Figure 2. A plurality of tubes 29 extend through the lowerportion of the heating apparatus and are open at their ends as shown at30. The tubes are surrounded between the end walls of the heatimapparatus by jackets or chambers 31 which extend through the walls 28 asshown. The outlet ends of the pipes 25) communicate with a dischargechamber 32 having an open lower end 38. The upper end of the dischargechamber communicates with a fractional distillator 34 through a suitablepipe 35 for a purpose to be described.

Means are provided for effectively heating the tubes 2.). As shown inFigures 2 and 3, I provide a pipe 36 which communicates with verticallyextending manifold pipes 37 adapted to be controlled by valves 39. Theupper portions of the pipes 37 are provided with branch pipes 11!! whichcommunicate with the heating jackets t] near the outlet ends of thepipes 237. The opposite ends of the iacltets 231 are provided withbranch pipes 40 each of which ctin'miunicates with an outlet manifold 41and the. lower ends of the n'ianifolds are connected by a cross pipe 42below the heating apparatus.

The chambers 31 may be heated by any suitable form of vapor circulatingtherethrough and in the drawings I have shown an apparatus for emolovhwinercnrv vapor as the heating means. As shown. T provide a boiler 43adapted to contain the mercury vapor to be heated by a gas burner itarranged thcrehclow. An outlet pipe 45 communicates with the upperportion of the boiler and is connected to a pipe section 46 which inturn is connected through a T 47 to the pipe 36 as shown in Figures 2and 3. The valve 48 is adapted to control passage of the vapors throughthe pipe 4:"). The cross pipe 42 is connected with a return pipe 4-9shown in Figures 2 and 4. and this pipe connects to the inlet end of acondenser 50 which has an outlet pipe 51 communicating with the lowerportion of the boiler.

As shown in Figure 2. the conveyor 19 is provided with domes 52. 553 andat. The dome 52 communicates with an outlet pipe 55 extending throughthe upper wall of the heating apparatus and this pipe is I'Jrovidcd witha depending portion 56. shown in Figure 1, connected to a scrubber 55'and a gasometer 56 to condition the fuel. and from the gasometicr thefuel pas.-'es to the burner ii to supply fuel thereto. The dome 53 isprovided with an outlet. pipe. 5? the opposite end of which is connectedto a condenser 58, as shown in Figure 1 and this condenser is providedwith an outlet pipe 59 which leads to a storage tank (it). Volatilesdriven off the conveyor through the pipe .77 are adapted to be condensedby the condenser 58 and the supply of volatiles to the condenser may beaugmented through a pipe 61 having its opposite end connected to thefractional distillator ibas shown. A pipe 62 communicates with the domeM to receive volatiles therefrom and this pipe is connected to acondenser (53 and the supply of volatiles to this condenser also may beaugmented through a pipe (34 having its oplit) the

posite end also connected to the fractional distillator as shown inFigure l. The condenser 63'is provided with an outlet pipe 65 throughwhich condensed 'volatiles are supplied to a storage tank 66. Outletpipes .67 communicate with the tanks 60 and 6G and passage of materialthrough these pipes is adapted to be controlled by valves 68. The pipes67, beyond the valve 68, are both connected to a common outlet pipe (39,the lower end of which communicates with an amalganiator near the lowerend thereof. Additional volatiles may be supplied to the amalgamator ifdesired, through a pipe 71 communicating with a supply tank 72. A pipe73 connects the tank 72 to the pipe 69 and passage of the materialthrough the pipe 73 is adapted to be controlled by a valve 741:.

Any suitable form of amalgamator may be employed. In the presentinstance, I have shown the amalgamator as being substantiallycylindrical and provided centrally thereof 'with an agitator shaft 75having angular agitator blades 76 secured thereto and adapted to forcethe material in the a-malgamator upwardly. The shaft may be driven byasuitable pulley '77. A burner 77 may be ar 'anged below the amalganmtorwheneby the material in the latter may be maintained constantly at anydesired temperature.

The outlet spout 27 oi the conveyor is adapted to discharge mat rialinto a hopper Y8 and water may be supplied to the hopper through a. pipeT9. The hopper 78 is adaptto feed material into a. crusher 80 adapted tobe driven in the same manner as the crusher 10 previously described. Ithas been found that the crushing action more eliiciently may be carriedout in the presence of waterand it is desirable to supply water to thecrusher through the pipe 79. It is desired that the crusher 80 effect areduction of the material passing therethrough to a relatively greatdegree of fineness to effect a mechanical breaking of the carbon andforeign materials contained in the material being treated. Accordingly,I preter to reduce the material in the crusher to a. de gree of finenesswhereby it will pass through a screen of approximately 200 mesh. Thecrusher 80 is provided with an outlet spent 81 which discharges materialinto chute 82 from whence it passes downwardly to the amalgamator 70;.as will be obvious.

The amalgamator is provided with a surroundingtrough 83 the: upper edgeof which may be arranged slightly above the upper edge ofthe'anialgamatoii' cylinder proper.

return conduit 83 is connected between the trough and the lower portionof the amalgamtor to permit circulation of the water, oil, amalgam andpulverized coal as i the bladesr'ti move the materia-l in theamalarnet-epwa ly- One a l of he tr ug may be provided with an opening covered by ascreen 84 through which water and foreign material such as ash, etc, mayflow, to be carried off through a pipe 84 to a. suitable launder. Theama'lgmated material overflowing into the trough 83 will be picked up bya. conveyor 85 which is preferably formed of woven fabric; such as:screen wire to permit water to drain from the material.

From the conveyor 85 the material will be deposited in a. hopper 86shown in detail in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The hopper 86 is provided with a Plll" rality of discharge openings 87corresponding in arrangement to a. plurality of extruding tubes 88. Theextruding tubes in turn correspond in arrangement with the pipes 29 andeach is provided with, an inlet opening 89. through which material flowsfrom the hopper. In Figure 1 I have diagrammatically shown a. meanswhich may be provided for extruding the material from the hopper intothe pipes 29. A piston 90 may be employed to reciprocate in each oi. the

tubes 88 and each piston is connected to a rod 91 which may be. drivenby any suitable source of power to reciprocate the piston.

The internal diameter of the extruding tubes 88 is somewhat smaller thanthe internal diameter of the heating tubes 29 as shown in Figure. 2, andit will be obvious that the rods or bars extruded [from the tubes 88will rest upon the lower portions of the tubes 29 providing a. spacenearly surrounding the-extruded bars for a purpose to be described. c

In Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, I have shown a somewhat modifiedform. of apparatus. In the modified form. the general assembly ofelements is substantially the same as in the form previously described.In the modified form of the apparatus I'employ a heating chamber 92which is generally si-nii lar to the form previously described exceptthat there is employed a different form. of conveying means for theinitial heating and a ditferentheating apparatus for heating the chamber92. As shown, Iprovide ac-onveyor 93 having take-ofi' domes for thevolatiles similar to those described in connection with the form of theinvention already described.

The conveyor98 is provided with av conveying belt. 94 therein. and thisbelt passes about pulleys or rollers 95 and 96 at opposite ends. Theconveyor belt is adapted to discharge material into a hopper 97 which.delivers the material to the crusher 80 previously described. The hopper97 may extend'upwardly as shown and may be supplied with materialdirectly from the crusher 10 by a conveyor 98 shown in dotted lines inFigure 6. The conveyor 98 preferably is employed when the method andapparatus is being used in connection with crude material haying, a lowvolatile. content while more highly fit) (lit

volatile materials are preferably passed through the conveyors to beheated.

The heating apparatus 92 is also provided with a pipe 56 to supply thefuel for the heating operation. Instead of heating mercury vapor or thelike externally oi the heat ng apparatus and supplying the vapor toheating jackets as previously described, the gases through the pipe 50in the modified form of apparatus are adapted to be burned directlywithin the heating chamber 02. is shown, the lower end oi the pipe 50 inthe modilicd form of apparatus supplies the gas to a manifold 09 fromwhence it is distributed through pipes 100 to transverse burner pipes101, arranged within the lower portion ot the heating chamber as clearlyshown in Figure 7. These pipes 101 extend transversely of the heatingapparatus and are provided at spaced intervals with upstanding burnertubes 102 covered by caps 103. Air for supporting combustion of: the gasis supplied through pipes 104; having open ends arranged externally" otthe heating chamber and the air pipes 101- are provided with rows ofopenings 100 through which the air passes. The air pipes are arranged inhorizontal alinement with the pipes 101 and both sets of pipes areadapted to act as a grate, to support a bed of refractory aggregates107. The heat generated by the gas from the burner tubes 102 is adaptedto raise the temperature of the aggregates 107 to a point ofincandescence. In the modified form of apparatus, it will be noted thatthe tubes 29 will be acted on directly by the heat generated in theretractory aggregates and of course are not sur rounded by heating tubesas in the case of the apparatus previously described.

Control valves 108 are arranged in the pipes 100 so that the combustionof fuel from the individual burner pipes may be controlled to set upheat zones of different intensities between the division walls 28.

As shown in Figure 6. a fine 100 is connected to the heating chamber 92to carry ofi' the products of combustion formed in the gas burners. Theflue 109 is provided with a horizontally extending enlarged portion 110for a purpose to be described.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 I provide anamalgamator 70 as previously described having an outlet trough 111 intowhich material is delivered. A litting conveyor 112 is adapted to conveythe material upwardly to a horizontal endless screen 113 which passesabout rollers 114 and 115. The conveyor 113 is preferably in the form ofa wire screen to permit the water in the material to be draineddownwardly into the an'ialgamator. One end of the conveyor 113 isarranged within the horizontal portion 110 of the flue to be slightlyheated thereby to drive off some of the moisture.

A chute 110 is adapted to convey material from the screen 113 to thehopper 86 as previously described.

It has been found that the semi-finished fuel will harden more readilyin an atmosphere ot air than in the presence of the volatiles driven oilfrom material in the tubes 20. hccordingly pipes 117 are provided whichcommuni rate with the interior of the pipes 29 to supply air thereto.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The crude material is 'fed to the crusher 10 it the material issutlieiently coarse to require crushing. It will be obvious that anycarl'ionaeeous material may be employed such as for instance. the lowvolatile anthracite coals and high volatile bituminous coals. etc. Thismaterial may be raw coals or may be obtained from screenings, minewastes or any other solid carbonaceous matter. After being reducedsubstantially to a degree of fineness whereby it will pass through ascreen ol' a mroximately 10 to mesh, the material will be fed into thehopper it the material employed contains a relatively high percentage ofvolatiles. From the hopper 25. the material will be conveyed by thescrew 20 through the conveyor 1.), as will be apparent. The material fedinto the hopper is. of course. at an ordinary temperature and willbecome heated within the conveyor. Since the material fed into thehopper is at an ordinary temperature. it will be apparent that it willbe gradually heated as it is conveyed by the screw. The initial heatingof the crude material will drive of't' some of the lighter volatileconstituents such as benzol and the like, and this volatile ma.- terialin the form of gas will pass down wardly through the pipe 56 to providefuel for the burner 44. As the material in the conveyor becomes heatedto a higher temperature. a second heat zone will be reached in thecentral portion of the heating chamber and some of the heaviervolatiles, such as pitch. will be drawn ott together with a small amountof benzol which previously has not been completely volatilized and it isprobable that some smoke also will be given nil. As the material passesthrough the conveyor its temperature will he raised until it reaches thethird stage as illustrated wherein the heavier volatiles will pass upwardly through the pipe (32. While I have illustrated the heating of theraw material as taking place in three stages, it will be apparent thatany number of stages may be employed whereby the material will be raisedin temperature to drive off the lighter and heavier volatileconstituents.

From the conveyor previously mentioned, the material will be dischargedinto the hopper 78 of the second crushing mill and the material will beof substantially the same therein. From the upper end of the chamber thevolatiles will flow through the pipe into the fractional distillatorwherein the volatiles of different specific gravities will be separatedand discharged through pipes (El and G4 to the condensers 58 and 63 aswill be apparent. If desired a blower may be employed for drawing thevolatiles from the chamber to the fractional distillator.

In the form of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 4; inclusive, Ihave shown means for heating the chamber 18 by mer' cury vapor. Gas willbe supplied to the burner -l-lfrom the dome 52 and it will be. apparent;that the burner will heat the boiler 43 to vaporize the mercury. Themercury vapor \vill flow upwardly through pipes 45 and t6 from whencethey will be distributed to the vertical manifolds 37. Flow of themercury vapor will be controlled by valves 8-6 to determine thetemperature adjacent the discharge ends of the tubes 29. From the upperends of the pipes 37. the mercury vapor will pass into the jackets 31through pipes 39. It will be apparent that the temperature of the vaporwill decrease as it tlows toward the inlet ends of the tubes 29 due tothe natural radiation of heat and will e discharged from the jackets 31through pipes 40, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. From the pipes 40, thevapor will flow to the outlet manifolds 41 from whence it will becollected in the pipe 49 and conveyed to the condenser 50. From thecondenser the mercut-y will be returned as liquid to the boiler t3through the pipe 51 whereupon it will be reheated to continue itscirculation.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 6 and 7 is substantiallythe same as in ihe form previously described. In the modified form thereis shown a belt conveyor 94; for conveying the material through theupper end of the heating chamber. The use of a belt conveyor has beenfound desirable when the apparatus is used in connection with materialshaving an unusually high volatile content. \Vhen the materials haw ing alow volatile content are employed. the materials may be conducteddirectly from the mill 10 to the hopper 97 by the conveyor 98. i

As previously stated. heating of the chamber 92 is accomplished directlyby gas burners arranged in the chamber instead of by externally heatedmercury vapors. Gas from the first dome 52 will be supplied through pipe56 to the scrubber and gasometer from whence it passes to the manifold99 to be distributed through the pipes 100 to the burner pipes 101, theflow of gas in each pipe 100 being controlled by its valve 108 wherebyzones of different heat intensily may be created. The gas will burn asit passes from the burner tubes 102 and air for combustion will besupplied through pipes 10% and openings 106. Thus it will be obviousthat the refractory aggregates 10? will be heated to incandescence tosupply proper heat to the chamber 99.. The cap .ttlEl arranged on eachburner tube is adapted to prevent particles of the refractories fromfalling into the burner pipes. Products of combustion from the chamberJ2 will llow through the line 101) to the enlarged portion 110 and theheat in the line may be utilized for partially drying the material inthe con veyor 113. The conveyor projects a mate rial distance beyond theend ol the enlarged portion of the line to permit water to drain throughthe screen forming the conveyor. to the amalgamator 70, Material fromthe screen 113 will be fed to the hopper Sl' through the chute 11(3, andfrom the hopper 86 it will be distributed to the various ex trudingtubes as n'eviously described.

It will be apparent that the material in the tubes 29 will be protectedfrom external influences, such as products of con'ibustiml, due to thefact that the materials are entirely enclosed within the tubes 29. Italso will be apparent that the space provided around the bars ofextruded material will permit the volatiles to flow freely from thetubes 29. It has been found that the linal heating action may be carriedout, particularly when done in stages of progressively increasing heatintensity without forming gas pockets within the bars of fuel, thuspreventing breakage of the bars. Thus solid relatively large pieces offuel are obtained from the apparatus and this fuel is highly suitablefor domestic or other use and is subject to almost perfect combustionwhereby practically no residue is left.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirh of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a heating chamber.means for conveying carbonaceous material through said chamber to gasifyand remove a relatively large percentage of the volatiles in thematerial, a mill adapted to receive and finely comminute material fromsaid conveying means, an amalgamator to receive the comminuted materialfrom said mill. means for supplying to said ai'nalgamator a liquidhaving an affinity for said carbonaceous material, a tube extendingentirely through said heating chamber. extruding means adapted to forcematerial through said tube, and means for conveying amalgam from saidamalgamator to said extruding means.

2. Apparatus of the character described lllfl llu ' lgc'ngrao.

supplying to said amalgamatora liquid having an afiinity for saidcarbonaceous 'material, an imperforate tube extending entirely throughsaid heating chamber, means for compressingpieces-of the substantiallyplastic amalgam formed in said amalgamator into solid relatively largelumps and forcing saidlumps through saitltube, and means for conveyingthe amalgam from said amalgamator to said last named means.

3. An apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidextruding means is adapted to'form the amalgam into bars of smallercross sectional area than said tube.

4. An apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidextruding means comprises a tube having an internal diameter smallerthan that of said tube, said extruding means including actuating meansfor forcing the plastic amalgam through said first named tube.

5. An apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidchamber is provided with means for heating successive zones of said tubeto different temperatures whereby the material passing therethrough willbe subjected to progressively increasing temperatures.

6. An apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidextruding means is adapted to form the amalgam into bars having a crosssectional area smaller than that of said tube, and means associated withsaid heating chamber for heating successive zones of said tube todifferent temperatures whereby the material passing therethrough will besubjected to progressively increasing temperatures.

7. A fuel forming apparatus comprising a chamber, means for heating saidchamber, a tube extending entirely through said chamber to be heatedtherein, and means for feeding a plastic fuel amalgam through said tube.

8. A fuel forming apparatus comprising a chamber, means for heating saidchamber, a tube extending entirely through said chamber to be heatedtherein, means for feeding a plasticvfuel amalgam through said tube, andmeans for controlling the heat in said chamber to heat successive zonesof said tube to different temperatures whereby the material passingtherethrough will be subjected to progressively increasing temperatures.

9. A fuel forming apparatus comprising a chamber, means for heating saidchamber,

a tube- "extending entirely through said chamber-to beheated thereinyandextruding means associated with saidvtube, said extruding meansbeingadapted to receive .aplastic fuel amalgam and extrude it as a bar, andto continuously feed the bar thus formed through said tube.

10. A'fuel forming apparatus comprising a chamber, Ineansfor heating:said chamber, a tube extending. entirely through said chamber to beheated therein, an extruding tube Jar-ranged outside said chamber-inend.

to end relation "to said first named tube means for supplying a plasticfuel amalgam to said'extruding tube, and means for continuously forcingthe material through said extruding tube and said first named tube.

11. An apparatus constructed in accord ance with claim 10 wherein saidextruding tube has an internal diameter smaller than that of said firstnamed tube.

12. An apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 10 wherein saidextruding tube has an internal diameter smaller than that of said firstnamed tube, and means for collecting volatiles from said first namedtube generated from the plastic material passing therethrough.

13. A fuel forming apparatus comprising a chamber divided transverselyto form a pluralityof compartments, a tube extending entirely throughsaid chamber longi tudinally thereof and having inlet and outlet ends,means for heating said compart ments to progressively increasingtemperatures from the inlet to the outlet end of said tube, and meansfor feeding a plastic fuel amalgam continuously through said tube fromthe inlet to the outlet end thereof.

14. An apparatus constructed in accord ance with claim 13 wherein saidlast named means is adapted for forming the plastic material into a barof smaller cross sectional area than said tube.

15. A fuel forming apparatus comprising a chamber provided withtransverse walls dividing the chamber into a plurality of compartments,means for conveying material through the upper portion of said chamberabove said walls to be heated therein, a tube extending entirely throughsaid chamber longitudinally thereof and having inlet and outlet ends,means for heating said compartments to progressively increasingtemperatures from the inlet to the outlet ends of said tube, and meansfor feeding the material continuously "through said tube from means, anamalgamator to receive the comminuted material from said mill, means forsupplying to said amalgamator a liquid having an atlinity for saidcarbonaceous material, a tube extending entirely through said heatingchamber, extruding means adapted to force material through said tube,means for continuously supplying air to said tube,

and means for conveying amalgam fronr said an'ialgamator to saidextruding means.

l7. A fuel forming apparatus comprising a chamber, means for heatingsaid chamber, a. tube extending entirely through said chamber to beheated therein, means for feeding a plastic fuel, amalgam through saidtube, means for healing said chamber, and

means for continuously supplying air to said tube.

18. A luel forming apparatus comprising a chamber, means for heatingsaid chamber, a tube extending entirely through said chamber to beheated therein, means for feeding a plastic fuel amalgam through saidtube, means for controlling the heat in said chamber to heat successivezones of said tube to dill'erent temperatures whereby the niaterialpassing therethrough will be subjected to progressively increasingtcmpcratnres, and means for continuously supplying air to said tube.

in testimony whereof l allix my signature WAllSON ll. R ULUN.

